Machine for trimming the edges of metal boxes.



\ F. E. ADAMS. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGBS 0P METAL BOXES. APPLIOAHQN FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

925,070. v Patented June 15, 1909.

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F. E. ADAMS. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES 0F METAL BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED 11118.10, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

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I F. E. ADAMS. MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF METAL BOXES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

925,070. Patented June 15, 1909;"

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F. E. ADAMS. MACHINE FOB. TRIMMING THE EDGES or METAL BOXES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1908.

925,070. Patented-Inns 1-5, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LWM I 7/460 UNITED STA PATENT FFTQE.

FRANK EDWARD ADAMS, OF WALLASEY, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF METAL BOXES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, FRANK ED\VARD ADAMS, a subject of the King of England, residing at Laurel Cottage, Prospect Vale, lVallasey, in the county of Chester, England, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in hiachinery for T rimming the Edges of Metal Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to machinery for trimming the edges of the sides of metal boxes or box lids, or parts, and it has for its objects and effects to provide a machine which is very efficient, and besides which is capable of trimming a large number of boxes or parts.

The improvements in machines for trimming the edges of metal boxes, box lids, or the .like, according to this invention, comprise in conjunction with the trimming mechanism, a means for removing the waste or trimmings.

In the drawings which accompany the specification, the trimming machine is of the type which is adapted to trim the edges of boxes, or box lids, or the like, which are of rectangular or similar poly-sided form, and in which the cutters are of a reciprocating kind, and are adapted to overlap in their cutting strokes; that is, the cutting scope of two opposite cutters which operate in conjunction with each other, is greater than half of the perimeter of the article. Or, in other words, each of the four cutters is capable of cutting more than one-fourth. of the sides of the tin or part, so that the whole of the sides of the tin are of a certainty properly cut, and moreover the opposite couple of cutters are moved inward and withdrawn, so as to operate upon and out the tin at the opposite sides at different times.

Vhile, however, the invention is mainly described in connection with a machine for cutting square or rectangular boxes or parts, it is applicable to machines of the rotary kind, and others used for trimming the edges of round, oval, or like tins, or parts thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a machine; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine, with the upper holding parts removed, showing the table and cutters. Fig. 4 is a diagonal section taken through the table and cutters; and Fig. 5 is a plan Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1908.

Patented June 15, 1909.

Serial No. 447,865.

showing a detail of cutter slide actuating means. Fig. 6 is a cross section taken across the machine parallel with its sides.

Referring to the drawings, 1 are the cutters, they being mounted on slides 2, working in guides 3 fixed on the rectangular table 4. Upon the table, the slides and guides are disposed in diagonal arrangement, that is, across the angles.

5 is the block on the table 4, upon which the tin or article to be trimmed is supported and clamped; and 6 is a pad in the form of a plate, carried from the block by pins 7, and supported and pressed upward by springs S, surrounding the pins 7.

The part of the block which supports the edges or sides of the tin to be operated upon and trimmed, and in connection with which the cutters I operate, is designated 9, and forms a species of anvil with conical edges, and it is slightly larger than the body 5 of the block, to enable the cutters 1 to pass under its lower edge, which constitutes the cutting edge; and the pad (3, which supports the bottom of the box or part, is of the same size as this part 9, and it is maintained in position in relation to the latter partas regards the vertical planeby means of the pins 7 which fit in and slide through holes in the bottom of the block 5, and are guided and held laterally thereby.

The strips of tin or other metal, as the case may be, cut away from the box by the action of the cutters, will be frequently in the form of endless rings, which encircle the cutter block 5, 9; and these are removed .from the machine automatically by reciprocating hooks 40. In the arrangement shown, there are two sets of these hooks, one set at each side of the cutter block 5. Each set in the case shown, consists of three hooks in advance of each other, two of which are fixed in a carrier 41 in which they are adjustable, and fixed by set screws, and the other in a carrier 42; these carriers being mounted on a pin 43 fixed in the vertical ends of an actuating reciprocating bar 44. And this bar is reciprocated to and fro by another bar 45, which is actuated from a rotating crank 46, mounted on a spindle 47, and a connecting rod 48; this spindle 47 being driven by a pinion 49 on the shaft 50, and a spur wheel 51 on the shaft 47, which it drives; the pinion 49 being rotated by a belt 52 passed over a belt pulley 53 attached to the fly wheel 34, and a belt pulley 54 connected with the pinion 49, and also passing over guide pulleys The bar 45 is connected up with the bar 44 by a stud 56 fixed in the bar 45, but working in and engaging the ends of a short slot 57, in 44; and, hence, in action, the bar 45 will move a short distance before moving the bar 44. The effect of this is that when the hooks 40 are moved toward the block 5, they will first be tilted upward about the pin 43 by the studs 58 carried in the upper ends of the bar 45, such studs acting upon the parts of the carriers 41, 42, which lie below the pin 43; and then when they have been moved to the inner position at the beginning of the return movementof the bar 45, the studs 58 will leave the-hook carriers, and so they will fall; after which, when the bar 44 is moved, they will be moved bodily outward from the block 5. The two positions of these hooks are shown in Fig. 1.

In falling, the innermost hook penetrates the entangled pieces of the metal cut away by the cutters 1, that is, the trimmings round the block 5, and take hold of them, and drag them away from the block, thereby breaking them, and dragging them away, and the other hooks move them ofi the table. These hooks are operated continuously in the manner described, and they are therefore reciprocated much more frequently than the cutters 1, and hence the machine is kept clear of the debris, which otherwise is liable to choke it.

The tin is pressed onto, and held on the block 5, by means of a vertically reciprocat ing presser or holding plate 11, supported on a vertical shaft 12, carried by the bracket 13 from the table 4; the shaft 12 being raised and lowered by a lever 14 carried on and from the upper end of the bracket 13, and connected to the shaft by a coupling link 15, adjustably connected at one end in the lever 14, and at the other to a boss or clamp 16 on the shaft. The lever 14 is vibrated up and down by the connecting rod 17 operated from the mechanism or gearing hereinafter described.

The pad 6, and the article to be trimmed, are pressed down by the presser plate 11 to the regulated or required amount, and the springs 7which are kept under compressi.onare further compressed; and then, afterward, when the tin, or other article is relieved, it is pressed up by the springs 7, and so is lifted clear of the cutting edge of the block part or head 9, thereby enabling the tin to be easily taken away.

The motion of the slides and the cutters 1, that is, their movement in opposite pairs or couples, inward and outward, so as to operate upon and cut the tin on opposite sides, at different times, is conveniently effected from the main horizontal driving shaft 20, through a crank 21, a connecting rod 22, and ahorizontal wrist plate 23, mounted on the spindle 24, a part of the wrist plate extending outward at one side, and being connected to the end of the connecting rod 22.

The connection of the wrist plate 23 with the several cutter slides 2, is by connecting rods or bars 25; the inner ends of each opposite pair of which are disposed above one another, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the points of their connection with the plate 23 are at about right angles to the direction of movement of the cutter slides, which they operate.

The outer ends of the rods 25 are connected to the lower arms of the levers 26, fulcrumed at 27 to the table 4, the upper ends of which project up into an opening in an adjustable part on the top of the slides 2. Thus by the rotation of the shaft 20, the

wrist plate 23 is simply vibrated about its axis, with the result that a pair of the opposite slides with their cutters, are moved inard, while the other pair are moved outward, and vice versa.

lVhen the tinmarked 100 in the drawing-is placed on the block 5, 9, manually, the presser plate or holder 11 is brought onto it by means of a treadle 30, which, when pressed down by the foot, moves up a rod 31, which actuates a rocking shaft 32 through an arm mounted on it, and actuated by the upper end of the rod 31; and the rocking of this shaft 32 is adapted to throw into action, a clutch mechanism of any known suitable kind (such as are used in sheet metal working machines which are started manually, and stopped automatically after each actuation) working in connection with the driven fly wheel 34, whereby the wheel 34 will be caused to be connected up with the said shaft, and drive it, and be automatically freed from it at the right moment near the end of the operation. At the same time, by the upward movement of this arm 33, and oscillation of the shaft 32, the presser plate 11 is moved down by the down 'ard movement of a triangular lever or arm fixed on the shaft 32, through the connecting rod 17 and mechanism above described, and the tin is pressed down and clamped or held on the cutter block 5, 9.

lVhen the presser plate 11, and clutch have been put in action by the treadle 30 and lever 31, the plate 11 kept in its active position, to which it has been moved during the trimming operation which then followsby the cam 36 fixed on the shaft 20; this cam being so formed as to act upon the bowl 37 on the lever 35, and keep it and the presser 11 down, for the greater portion of a revolution of the shaft 20. Thus the operator can release the treadle 30 immediately after the presser or holder 11, and the clutch, are brought into action, and it returns to the position in which it will be ready for acting upon the next tin or box placed in the machine, by the rod 31 having a slot 88 in its upper end, allowing it to fall, while the arm is kept up by the cam 36.

When the shaft 20 has made nearly a complete revolution, and the cutters have been actuated as above described, and the edges of the box or article trimmed, the larger diameter portion of the cam 36 will have left the bowl ST, and so the armor lever 35 can rise, and with it the presser plate 11 can be raised 05 the box; this return action being effected by a spring or weight, as may be desired. And upon the complete actuation of the machine, the clutch connected with the belt fly wheel 34 and shaft 20, will be thrown out of action in the well known way, and the shaft will be free, and will be stopped as usual, and will remain stationary until the trimmed box has been removed, and a fresh one placed upon the block. After this, when a new tin is placed on, by operating the treadle, the action is repeated, the clutch for operating2'. 0., starting and stoppingthe machine being again thrown in.

In cases where the tins are fed automatically by any known suitable form of feeding means onto the block 5, 9, the presser or holder 11 may, in such cases, be also freed in the manner described, and made self-acting, both in its relieving or upward movement, as well as in its downward movement. In some cases, the main shaft (20) can be run continuously, in which case a device is employed to time the clamp ing of the tin; while if this shaft be provided with a clutch mechanism as referred to, in the manner of a power press, the machine will be stopped at definite points of the stroke; the clutch being made to stop the machine by the treadle after the tin has been clamped; while, subsequently, the clutch is taken off, and the tin clamp is relieved automatically as referred to.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine for trimming the edges of boxes, box lids and tins, the combination of a plurality of cutters angularly disposed relatively to each other, and capable of being moved into the active and cutting part of the path traversed by the adjacent cutters, means for removing from the machine the portions trimmed from the articles, means for holding in position the article to be trimmed, and means for operating the trimming and waste removing mechanism and the holding means.

2. In a machine for trimming the edges of boxes, box lids and tins, the combination of a plurality of cutters angularly disposed relatively to each other, and capable of being reciprocated alternately into the paths traversed by the adjacent cutters, a reciprocated trimming waste removal mechanism, means for holding in place the article to be trimmed, and means for operating in a predetermined order, the trimming and waste removal mechanism and the holding means.

3. In a machine for trimming the edgesof boxes, box lids and tins, the combination of a plurality of cutters angularly disposed relatively to each other, and capable of moving into the path traversed by adjacent cutters,

a plurality of reciprocated hooks which engage with and remove the portions trimmed from the articles operated upon, means for operating the cutters intermittently and the reciprocated hooks continuously, a spring pressed block for supporting the article to be trimmed, and a reciprocated means for holding the article on the said block.

4:. In a machine for trimming the edges of sheet metal boxes, parts of boxes, and the like, a cutter adapted to operate upon the edge of the box or part, and to trim same; and a reciprocating trimming removal means operating in conjunction with the part which receives same, consisting of a plurality of reciprocating hooks adapted to be moved inward and lifted, and to fall onto and engage said trimmings, and then to be moved away and break, and drag same away; substantially as described.

5. In a machine for trimming the edges of sheet metal boxes, parts of boxes, and the like, an intermittently operating trimming cutter; and a constantly reciprocating waste or trimming removing mechanism; substantially as described.

6. In a machine for trimming the edges of sheet metal boxes, parts of boxes, and the like, the combination of trimmin mechanism, means for intermittently reclprocating said mechanism having cutters adapted to extend into the shearing area of the adjacent cutters; reciprocating waste removing mechanism; means for constantly operating said mechanism and mechanism adapted to hold the work in position, and to start the machine; substantially as described.

7. A machine for trimming the edges of sheet metal boxes, parts of boxes, and the like, comprising in combination reciprocating trimming cutters, so adapted that the points on the box or article reached by the outer ends or extremities of the respective sets of cutters, overlap; a continuously operating waste removing mechanism; and a treadle mechanism connected with the cutter mechanism adapted to bring same into action when operated; substantially as described.

8. In a machine for trimming the edges of sheet metal boxes, parts of boxes, and the like, two pairs of cutters 1, arranged at right angles to each other, adapted to be moved in opposite directions; a wrist plate 23, and connecting rods 25 connecting said wrist plate with the said respective pairs of cutother, and the two sets of connections to the said wrlst plate being at right angles to each ters, thetwo points of connection to the said name to this specification in the presence of Wrist plate, of the rods connected with each two subscribing Witnesses. pair of cutters being 180 degrees from each FRANK EDWARD ADAMS.

Witnesses SOMERVILLE GOODALL, RICHARD H. JENKINS.

other; as herein set forth. In testimony whereof I have signed my 

